Actor in Hollywood

Sweat slightly dampened her bangs, and a few stray hairs stuck to her temples. Her cheeks had a hint of color, but it still couldn't hide her fragile, sickly appearance.

However, those amber eyes, clear as crystal, shone quietly like starlight, stubborn and resilient, exuding a sense of refreshing energy.

The fine lines at the corners of her eyes and forehead hinted at the passage of time, yet the purity and clarity in her pupils still carried a youthful innocence.

Silently, she caught his gaze.

Her lips gently curved into a smile as she mouthed, "Thank you."

She took the handkerchief and bottle of water from Anson, completely ignoring the ongoing Chanel fashion show in front of her. She opened the water bottle and took two large gulps, casually wiped the sweat from her forehead, and then slicked back her short hair, revealing her angelic face. The glow in her eyes and on her face gradually returned.

There was an effortless ease about her.

Thud.

She propped her elbow on her knee, dropped her head, turned to Anson again, and let out a long sigh as if she had finally relaxed. But instead of greeting Anson, she looked past him, lifting her chin slightly, "Hey."

Anson followed her gaze and turned around.

Anna remained calm, seemingly oblivious to the gesture, her attention fully absorbed by the runway, not even raising an eyebrow.

Anson wasn't surprised—

Don't be fooled by Anna's approachable demeanor over the past few days; Anson hadn't forgotten her reputation. This aloofness and arrogance were her usual ways.

Not responding didn't mean there was no message. Clearly, Anna's posture made it evident:

Watch the show.

At this moment, nothing was more important than the show in front of them; they shouldn't be distracted.

Anson looked back at the woman beside him.

Despite the awkward situation, she didn't seem to mind at all, grinning and making a funny face, letting out an exclamation, "Oops."

Then, she turned to Anson again, without avoiding the embarrassing situation. Beneath her fragile and innocent face was a rebellious spirit, though not sharp, but more playful and quirky.

A smile flashed in Anson's eyes. Seeing her so lively, he knew that the pain had likely passed, giving him some relief.

Anson slightly turned his head, facing away from Anna, placed his finger on his lips, "Shh," while making a funny face, pretending to be cautious and quiet, echoing the earlier "Oops."

Like a student sneaking off task under the teacher's nose.

Smiles crept onto both of their lips, but neither said anything further. They turned their attention back to the runway, pretending to watch the show—

They hadn't forgotten their place: the front row of the Chanel fashion show.

Although the spotlight was on the runway, every move in the front row VIP seats was under a microscope, with everyone watching.

After all, those who could appear here were all notable figures.

The woman beside Anson was no exception.

You couldn't tell when she was hunched over in pain, her face hidden behind her hair; but as the pain subsided, the sparkle in her eyes revealed her true identity.

Winona Ryder.

This actress rose to fame at a young age, making her way into the public eye at just nineteen with her role in *Edward Scissorhands*. Her spirited appearance made her a star of the 90s, known for films like *Little Women*, *The Age of Innocence*, *Bram Stoker's Dracula*, and *Girl, Interrupted*.

There's no doubt that she's an actress with a performance style rich in spirit and imagination. However, the overwhelming fame she encountered at such a young age unleashed deep-seated insecurities. Scars from her family's abandonment and bullying at school triggered stress responses.

In the late 1990s, Winona went through a tumultuous and dark period, exacerbated by the betrayal of her friend, Gwyneth Paltrow, which sent her spiraling into an abyss.

The script for *Shakespeare in Love* was originally offered to Winona to play the lead role. She had casually left the script on the coffee table in her living room, and when Gwyneth came over to visit, she spotted the script and secretly took it. After studying it closely, she contacted the producers and recommended herself for the role, eventually securing it.

The following year, *Shakespeare in Love* won the Oscar for Best Picture, beating out *Saving Private Ryan*, and Gwyneth won the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance.

It wasn't so much that Winona regretted missing out on *Shakespeare in Love* and the Oscar, but rather, she couldn't accept the deception and betrayal from a friend. When faced with fame and fortune, so-called friendship simply didn't stand the test.

Even now, Winona remains in a low period of her career, unable to fully recover, much like Leonardo DiCaprio in recent years.

Anson knew that Paris Fashion Week was packed with stars, and over the past few days, he had experienced it firsthand, even getting the illusion that every celebrity had flocked to Paris. But encountering Winona at the Chanel show was still a pleasant surprise.

However, the circumstances of their meeting weren't ideal. Anson wasn't sure if Winona minded having her most vulnerable and worst side exposed.

At least the rest of the show went off without a hitch.

All eyes were on the runway—

Karl Lagerfeld was still a master, even though Dior had stolen much of the spotlight at this year's Paris Fashion Week. Chanel still showcased its strong heritage, delivering a stunning performance once again.

The audience's expressions at the end of the show told the story.

All eyes turned to industry leaders like Anna, trying to gauge their reactions, but Anna had already put on her sunglasses, blocking out all the scrutiny.

The whole audience stood up and applauded.

Karl came out to take his bow, and Anna led Anson backstage to thank Karl.

Even though there were thousands of people heading backstage, one more or one less wouldn't make a difference; but since Karl had personally invited Anson, even just a brief greeting was necessary to express his gratitude.

As expected, the backstage area was packed.

Karl wanted to chat with Anson a bit more about his look today, which they hadn't had a chance to discuss in detail, as Karl was curious about Anson's inspiration. But Karl was swamped, barely having a moment to breathe, so after waiting patiently for a while, Anson politely took his leave.

Anna had her own responsibilities and was undoubtedly a focal point as well, so when Anson returned to the main area, he found himself alone.

He was scanning the crowd for Eddie or Edgar when he first spotted Winona—

A small area had cleared around her, in stark contrast to the groups of people chatting nearby. She stood out, making it hard to ignore her.

Standing quietly in the bustling crowd, Winona seemed particularly delicate, as if the slightest breeze could sweep her away into the clouds.

Anson hesitated for a moment, then decided to approach her.

"Hey, miss, are you waiting for someone?"

He greeted her with a playful tone.

Winona looked over when she heard him, and a bright smile spread across her face, completely relaxing her slightly weary expression. She looked Anson directly in the eyes with grace and replied, "Yes, I'm waiting for you."